Islam and Slavery — Page 14
14 the slayer shall set free a Muslim slave and if he does not find a slave then he should fast for two months in succession. " (1). Further on it says, "And if the person slain be from a people between whom and yourselves there is a treaty of peace then even if the person slain be a disbeliever the slayer shall pay the blood-money to his heirs and set free a slave, and if he does not find a slave, he shall fast for two months consecutively. " (2). Again, the Quran says: "If anybody swears to a thing and then fails to keep his oath, he shall atone for it by feeding ten poor people according to his means, or by giving them clothes, or by emancipating a slave; but if he does not find a slave, he shall fast for three days. " (3). Elsewhere the Quran enjoins: "And those who vow to separate themselves from their wives and afterwards go back on words and desire to return to them, shall emancipate a slave; but if any of them does not find a slave, he should fast for two months consecutively, and if he is not able to do that, then let him feed sixty poor people. " (4). The above are the various occasions for the ema:cipation of slaves, which have been prescribed by Islain, and as is usual with the Quran, two or three alternatives have been suggested for each occasion and the Muslin's have been given the option to choose between them according to their means and circumstances. It should (1) Ibid. (2) 4:93. (3) 5:90. (4) 58:3, 4.